AFL 2026, Round 7 Talking Points

Fury over AFL umpiring is boiling over from fans, coaches and players - and there’s a simple change to one of the controversial rules.

Plus the good problem Sydney is facing again two years later, Essendon’s top free agency target, Kozzie Pickett’s elevation and more in Foxfooty.com.au’s Round 7 Talking Points!

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‘SOMEONE NEEDS TO TAKE CHARGE’: ANNUAL FURORE ERUPTS... JUST WHEN UMPS EXPECTED IT TO

Speak to those in the AFL umpiring fraternity and they’ll tell you external frustration with the league’s whistleblowers and rules usually boils over around Anzac round.

That no doubt came to fruition this weekend. Especially on Friday night.

Dual All-Australian David King used a touchy call that went against Richmond’s Tom Lynch to start the discussion.

Melbourne’s Changkuoth Jiath took possession of the ball deep in his defensive 50 before he was quickly tackled by Lynch. Jiath clearly dropped the footy and Lynch had claims of holding the ball, but whether he had prior opportunity was questionable.

Nonetheless, Tigers coach Adem Yze was clearly livid about the non-call on the bench.

Which brings us back to Kingy and his concerns.

“Our great game has lots of challenges right now, but none more than umpiring,” King wrote on X.

“This (the Lynch tackle) was a 50:50 call, but last night’s game wasn’t the best advertisement for consistency and clarity for all involved.”

King wasn’t the only footy pundit with a similar view.

The Fox Footy commentary team was left baffled by a holding the ball call against Richmond at the start of the fourth quarter when Hugo Ralphsmith was caught by Demon Bayley Fritsch and penalised by the umpire.

“There’s four of us just looking at each other at the moment, because there doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason or consistency in this,” Melbourne legend Garry Lyon told Fox Footy.

Broadcaster Gerard Whateley added holding the ball “hadn’t been applied consistently” throughout the match, adding: “An enraged Tiger army at the MCG.”

Richmond legend Matthew Richardson said the result wasn’t impacted but claimed the Tigers “got the wrong end of a lot of decisions or non-decisions” against the Demons, adding on X: “Some baffling calls.”

CODE Sports and Fox Footy reporter Jon Ralph said the Demons kicked 5.3 from free kicks against Richmond.

“Richmond supporters losing their minds,” Ralph wrote on X. “As many as 8-10 baffling holding the ball free kicks not paid.

“It didn’t cost the Tigers the game but how can fans hope to understand holding the ball when it is so inconsistently interpreted by umpires?”

Yze was asked about his frustrations on his team being on the wrong end of multiple umpiring decisions and non-decisions.

“We try and tackle and you’d love to get rewarded for tackling,” Yze told reporters.

“I felt like we didn’t get rewarded for a few of them and then we got punished for others, so you’re going to get the rough end of the stick in certain games, but you just want to get rewarded for pressure.”

The next day in Tasmania, the stand rule was under fire.

With Hawthorn leading Gold Coast by just nine points with under three minutes left in the third term, Hawks defender Tom Barrass took a telling intercept mark on the wing - and then was handed a 50m penalty after Suns players Jarrod Witts and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan were seemingly both standing the mark at different stages.

But as Fox Footy commentator Leigh Montagna pointed out, the umpire never specified which Suns player had to ‘stand’ the mark. So with Witts moving back and Ugle-Hagan standing to the right of the mark, confusion - and a 50m penalty - ensued.

Fellow Fox Footy commentator Dwayne Russell said it was a “harsh” call, while Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy didn’t hold back.

“It’s got to be the most hated rule in the history of the game, the stand rule. And this is the reason why … That’s dreadful,” Healy bluntly said on Fox Footy.

Ugle-Hagan may have been over the line but all he heard was stand, and understandably, he didn’t want to move.

There’s a simple and obvious fix to this, and it could happen immediately - the umpire actually communicating as to who needed to stand, calling out a name or a number, would’ve solved the situation instantly.

Suns coach Damien Hardwick labelled the decision “baffling”, adding “common sense has to prevail at some stage”.

“We went through three examples that the AFL sent to us that should be 50, there was one clear that we thought ‘yep that’s what the rule’s been brought in for’ and there were two others that, it’s just causing confusion,” he said.

“The Max Gawn-Ben Miller one (on Friday) night, I tried to clarify that with the umpires before the game and everyone’s got a different interpretation.

“The game is hard enough for the umpires to do at present with the holding the ball stuff, and now this manning the mark stuff so can we just simplify it?

“I don’t know what that looks like but someone needs to take charge.

“Hopefully someone with sane of thoughts gets there and figures it out.”

Add in Sunday afternoon’s baffling decision by the AFL Review Centre to call back play after almost a minute, because Rowan Marshall maybe-possibly took a mark on the goalline, and it was a poor weekend for the reputation of the whistle-blowers.

Among all the grumpiness, spare a thought though for boundary umpire Patrick Dineen, who had to exit Friday night’s Dees-Tigers game midway through the second quarter.

The boundary umpire lost his footing and landed on his arm awkwardly while bracing for his fall before being taken to hospital with a suspected broken arm.

‘SCARING THE COMP’: UPSIDE — AND DOWNSIDE — OF PLAYING ‘PRELIM FINAL FOOTY’ EVERY WEEK AT ROUND 7

The Swans have emphatically flipped the script in 2026.

But too emphatically, too early?

It’s the standard ‘good’ problem coach Dean Cox would rather have, especially when you consider the team’s uncharacteristic state 12 months ago.

After Round 7 last year, Sydney sat 14th on the ladder with just two wins. With key personnel missing, the Swans were still seeking cohesion and consistency — a rare position for a club that has perennially contended for over two decades.

Fast forward to Round 7 this year and, after a commanding win over the Western Bulldogs, the Swans are arguably the AFL’s benchmark and most complete side. They’re on top of the ladder, ranked a clear No.1 for points scored and, more impressively, No.1 for least points conceded.

Dual premiership Kangaroo David King on Thursday night declared the Swans “sent a shock through the competition” with their win against the Dogs, which was driven by a ruthless defensive edge, rather than their offensive flair.

“They are in great order Sydney,” King told Fox Footy. “Their ability without the footy – we don’t talk enough about it. You win premierships off pressure.

“They play preliminary final football every week right now.

“They’re a different product to last year and I think they’re scaring the competition with the way they hunt.”

Ladder leader after Round 7 (plus eventual premier & their ladder position at the time)

2025: Collingwood (Brisbane 2nd)

2024: Geelong (Brisbane 13th)

2023: Collingwood (won flag)

2022: Melbourne (Geelong 7th)

2021: Melbourne (won flag)

2020: Port Adelaide (Richmond 4th)

2019: Geelong (Richmond 9th)

2018: Richmond (West Coast 2nd)

2017: Adelaide (Richmond 6th)

2016: North Melbourne (Bulldogs 4th)

2015: Fremantle (Hawthorn 6th)

Sydney’s defensive improvement, crucially, hasn’t come at the expense of its attacking flair. The team’s ball movement and transition — specifically its ability to run and link up via hand — is still its greatest “weapon”, according to dual All-Australian Leigh Montagna.

Remember, the Swans are still without arguably their biggest ball movement puzzle piece in Errol Gulden due to injury.

“So far this year no one has really been able to counter it,” Montagna told Fox Footy.

“When you’re the best team early in the year, other teams go to work and go: ‘OK, when we come up against Sydney, how do we try and combat this handball game?’”

Defender Tom McCartin credited a new addition to the Swans’ coaching panel — ex-Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin — for their offensive brilliance.

“We’re playing a bit quicker,” McCartin told Fox Footy. “I think Simon Goodwin has been a great addition for us. He runs the offence… he just instils a lot of confidence in everyone.”

And when you consider Cox is just 30 games into his coaching tenure, King suggested the Swans’ surge has come quicker than expected.

“This brand has taken hold quickly. Probably even Dean Cox didn’t think it would look like this after seven rounds,” he said.

“There’s just damage everywhere.”

But while their results and gamestyle have been eye-catching, pundits — and the Swans internally — know April dominance doesn’t lead to September glory.

Just ask Melbourne in 2021 and 2022, or Geelong in 2019, or North Melbourne in 2016, or Collingwood last year.

Or Sydney in 2024.

“It doesn’t really mean much until finals comes around,” McCartin said.

“We want to be peaking at the right time. We’ve had a really good start to the year, but we want to be peaking in September.”

Montagna highlighted the delicate balancing act the Sydney coaching staff now faces for the rest of the year.

“It must be hard as a coach when you’re playing this well this early, because it’s such a long race,” he said.

“You’ve got to be conscious of the messaging … keeping everyone up for a long year and trying to find ways to improve.”

But as Hall of Fame legend Jason Dunstall pointed out: “You’d still rather be winning games than not winning them early.”

The Swans are the competition’s early pace-setter. They’re clearly a genuine premiership threat.

But for a club that’s made 10 of the past 13 finals series — including four losing Grand Finals — it knows the long game remains top priority.

NO TO BUTTERS? BOMBERS’ FREE AGENCY PLANS REVEALED — WITH A CAVEAT

It was clear to see how long the road still is ahead of the Bombers after an Anzac Day humiliation, despite a promising couple of weeks.

And it seems the Bombers know exactly where they’re at.

Essendon reportedly won’t pursue free agent Zak Butters if it means giving up high-end draft capital, as the rebuilding club looks to preserve its draft hand.

The Bombers have been linked to big-name free agents including Butters and Brisbane’s Zac Bailey. They remain interested in such superstars.

But not at the expense of their draft stock, with Essendon currently slated to hold the No.2 pick.

“The Bombers are interested in Zac Bailey still, but you can put a line through them on Zak Butters. The difference is the Power will want two very early, or three, first-first-round draft pick,” chief Herald Sun reporter Jay Clark explained on Fox Footy.

“For where the Bombers are at at the moment, it’s a clear build. They’re currently holding Pick 2. They’re not going to forgo Pick 2 and another early first-round selection for Zak Butters — not for where they’re at. They’re in rebuild mode.”

While Butters and Bailey are both free agents, the key difference is that Port Adelaide has the financial flexibility to essentially match any offer that comes Butters’ way and force a trade.

Whereas Brisbane’s salary cap is already tight and the Lions mightn’t necessarily have the capacity to dig too deep into the wallet.

There’s already been reports Adelaide has offered Bailey a monster deal of at least seven years worth upwards of $10 million.

We’ve seen good players tip out of premiership teams many times before.

But in the case with Butters, Essendon doesn’t want to get in a bidding war as it prioritises bringing more youth through the door.

“They can still get Zac Bailey for free as a free agent, but this is a very different scenario for Zak Butters. Because Port will match a big-money bid up to to $2 or $2.2 million,” Clark continued.

“But there’s no way they should be giving up their early picks.”

Triple premiership Tiger Jack Riewoldt endorsed it as a “smart move” from Essendon, particularly with Tasmania’s looming entry into the competition and the 19th club dominating future drafts.

“With Tasmania coming into the competition soon, the draft is going to be diluted again,” Riewoldt added.

“This is their last chance to get talent in before you’ve got 19 teams in the competition.

“I’d be doing it every day of the week.”

THE SPECIAL ACT THAT SPEAKS TO WHERE DEES, SUPERSTAR ARE AT... AND THE RARE AIR HE’S NOW IN

“That’s what I want to do: be the best in the competition.”

Those were Kysaiah Pickett’s words to Fox Footy after Melbourne’s 11-goal win over Richmond last Friday night. And if his incredible 29-disposal, four-goal performance was anything to go by, he’s not far off sitting at the league’s apex of superstars.

The 24-year-old was unsurprisingly named the Frank ‘Checker’ Hughes Medal winner in the annual Anzac Day Eve clash. But remarkably, his performance came off a five-day break in which he spent time away from the playing group.

Demons head coach Steven King revealed post-game that Pickett had travelled to the Northern Territory to spend time with his daughter for her birthday — a particularly fascinating detail given the ultra-short turnaround between games.

“I was just in awe of his game, to be honest,” King told journalists post-game.

“On a five-day break, the way he looked after and managed his body. He came back, trained, and then to do that tonight, it’s pretty amazing to watch.

“As the player and performer that ‘Kozzy’ is, the package he’s got — skill, athleticism, courage. He’s got that hardness about him. It’s inspiring, a real pleasure and a treat for me to coach ... the things he does on the footy field, it’s electric.”

The uncommon move is one Melbourne has embraced from day one this season with their superstar, and is a huge green light to the level of trust between the club’s players, coaches and staff amid their red-hot 5-2 start to the year.

After seven rounds, Pickett is averaging just under 25 disposals and 1.4 goals per game, while also ranking elite for inside 50s and shots on goal.

“I just marvel at what he can do. Kozzy is the complete package. He’s as hard as he is skilful; he’s brave ... (and) the way he can cover ground and run and speed,” King added.

“Now, he’s actually starting to step up and be a leader around our footy club. Everyone wants to play in the midfield, but he’s embraced the work it takes to do that at an increased level, and we know what he can do forward of the ball.

“I’ve played with and coached a lot of really, really good players over the journey. But Kozzy is as unique as all of those and right up there.”

It comes as no surprise that Pickett is now genuinely being floated as one of, if not the, competition’s most in-form players, right up there alongside the likes of Marcus Bontempelli, Nick Daicos and Isaac Heeney.

Speaking to Fox Footy in the Demons’ changerooms on Friday night, the humble Woodville-West Torrens product spoke about his steep, continued rise in output to begin the 2026 season.

“It comes back to pre-season, that’s what I’ve been working on the last two years. It’s being able to get back and support the midfielders ... (it’s helping) take my game to the next level,” Pickett said.

“It all comes back to my confidence. I feel like I know what I’m capable of. I’ve had to work a little bit harder to take my game to the next level; that’s what I did with the coaches around me.

“I want to be the best ... that’s what the best players do, they just want to keep getting better and better. That’s what I want to do: be the best in the competition.”

‘HAVE TO BE SMARTER’: BLUES SKIPPER EXPOSED BY DOCKERS’ MVP

Are the Blues getting the best out of skipper Patrick Cripps?

Stats wise – 31 disposals, 24 contested, 11 clearances, seven tackles and a goal sounds like a day out.

But the reality is Cripps was “clearly exposed” by the Dockers on Saturday night when he went head to head with Shai Bolton – who went on to win the Arthur Leggett Medal for best on ground.

So who is responsible for that match up in the middle of the ground?

Is it Blues coaches or Cripps himself?

Triple premiership Tiger Jack Riewoldt and dual premiership Roo David King debated the match up on Fox Footy’s Super Saturday.

“Why wouldn’t you try and exploit Patrick Cripps?” Riewoldt said.

“Carlton have to be smarter than that – than pairing Patrick Cripps up against Shai Bolton at centre bounce.

“It’s just not going to work. He doesn’t have the leg speed to go to him.

“Either that’s poor planning by Michael Voss at the start of the game or it’s poor planning out on the ground by Patrick Cripps.

“He was clearly exposed by a player that has excellent leg speed.

“I think Carlton would be coming away from this game going what is our best centre bounce mix? And is Patrick Cripps a part of that going forward?”

King was adamant Cripps belonged in the centre of the ground – but had to be “smarter” with who he lines up on.

“He’s definitely a centre bounce player – I don’t think that’s in question,” King said.

“But the match ups they’ve got to get right.

“You make a mistake here and it costs you a goal.

“It shouldn’t be Cripps vs Bolton – you got to be smarter than that when the quartet go into the middle. The players (are responsible).

“They walk in and see, the communication is ok you’ve got him, you’ve got him. I want to be in the hit to spot. Oh it’s Bolton? Let’s have a chat about this. You’ve got to be better than that.

“You expose your captain to every weakness that he’s got under the sun and you pay a heavy price against good teams.”

The Cripps debate comes weeks after four-time premiership winner Jordan Lewis suggested the dual Brownlow Medallist and the Blues could explore a potential trade in a bid to accelerate Carlton’s rebuild.

“In five years’ time, Cripps might be a one-club player and hasn’t played in a grand final or premiership success, then what have you achieved for the club?” Lewis had said on Fox Footy’s On the Couch.

“I think there’s a serious question on whether they can trade Cripps out and get draft picks back in and it be a win-win for both clubs.”

Carlton gave up 5.1 from centre bounce – something coach Michael Voss later claimed was “probably the difference” in the game.

“The main source that we just couldn’t get our handle on for most of the night was centre square bounce,” he said.

“When it all comes down to it … they kicked five goals, I think, from centre square bounce.

“We’re able to kick a few ourselves, but it just felt like we were, you know, we’d get the score we need, and then go back to centre square bounce. And always sort of looked a little bit more dangerous for them than it did for us.

“So that was probably, really, in the end, the difference in the game.”

Voss was full of praise for the work of Bolton in the match aftermath.

“Bolton was exceptional in that first 10 minutes of the last quarter. I mean, he stepped it up and he was able to hit the scoreboard and got out the front of stoppage and just got behind the defence. And you know, he was just probably too good through that small period.”

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